Minor planets discovered: 10 [1]
3360 Syrinx 4 November 1981 MPC
3362 Khufu 30 August 1984 MPC
3551 Verenia 12 September 1983 MPC
6065 Chesneau 27 July 1987 MPC
6435 Daveross 24 February 1984 MPC
7163 Barenboim 24 February 1984 MPC
(46540) 1983 LD 13 June 1983 MPC
(96177) 1984 BC 30 January 1984 MPC
(168316) 1982 WD 25 November 1982 MPC
(267004) 1981 UA 21 October 1981 MPC
also see Category:Discoveries by R. Scott Dunbar

Roy Scott Dunbar is an American astronomer, planetologist and discoverer of comets and minor planets.[2]

Dunbar played an active role in the Palomar Planet-Crossing Asteroid Survey.[2] The Minor Planet Center credits him with the (co-)discovery of 10 numbered minor planets during 1981–1987.[1]

His most notable discoveries include the potentially hazardous object and Aten asteroid 3362 Khufu, which he co-discovered with Maria A. Barucci, as well as the near-Earth object, Mars-crosser and Aten asteroid, 3551 Verenia. Together with Eleanor Helin he co-discovered the minor planets 3360 Syrinx, 6065 Chesneau, 6435 Daveross and 7163 Barenboim.

Dunbar and Helin also claimed the discovery of comet 1980 p, which turned out not to exist. It was a ghost image of Alpha Leonis.

The main-belt asteroid 3718 Dunbar, discovered by Eleanor Helin and Schelte Bus, is named after him.[2] Naming citation was published on 2 April 1988 (M.P.C. 12976).[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(3718) Dunbar". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (3718) Dunbar. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 314. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3715. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
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